Inconsistency in our diets causes digestive disorders. The tendency to overeat or under-eat is increasing, with people dining out more often or skipping meals. This can cause a higher likelihood of indigestion, especially triggered by the unhealthy convenience foods we consume on a daily basis. This is not surprising when you consider that these foods include preservatives, hormones, artificial ingredients and other chemical additives. If minor problems are left untreated, they can lead to more serious, chronic illnesses.

Cairo East Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Mostafa Ibrahim, an expert in the field of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy at Roeya Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Center to bring you the dietary guidelines you may need to follow.

CEM: Dr. Mostafa, what are the digestive problems you most commonly encounter?

MI: We mainly encounter problems such as constipation, most common in females, as well as heartburn, which falls under acid reflux diseases. These are so common that they can be even be misinterpreted as being normal.

Is there a main root cause for these or can there be a variety of reasons?

I believe that both constipation and heartburn positively correlate with our new unhealthy eating habits, like eating junk food, which contains more fats and fewer vegetables. Also, stress is a major player in both diseases, since it increases acid production in the stomach. This eventually leads to reflux of acid, which causes heartburn. Constipation is also directly correlated with stress, it is also known as irritable bowel syndrome.

How are the main problems treated?

For heartburn, proper diagnosis should be made. As well as an exclusion of the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which is the chief cause of gastritis and hence refluxes. As for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome should be diagnosed; primarily by the elimination of other organic colonic diseases. Stress reduction of the patient is needed; the treatment is a triad of lowering stress levels, rehydration and laxatives.

Can they be cured, or merely managed?

Sure they can be cured. Heartburn can be cured with a few main types of medicine that can help with the symptoms of acid reflux. These are antacids; surface acting agents, histamine blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. All of these medicines work by reducing or blocking stomach acids in different ways.

Antacids and surface acting agents can relieve mild symptoms, but they work only for a short period of time, while histamine blockers are stronger and last longer than antacids and surface acting agents. Proton pump inhibitors are the most effective medicine in treating reflux disease. You can buy most of these medicines over the counter, but your family physician should be consulted before any course of treatment.

Constipation is a common complaint and often responds to dietary changes and various laxatives. Idiopathic constipation may be associated with normal or slow colonic transit, defecatory dysfunction, or both. The initial management of chronic constipation includes patient education, behavior modification, dietary change, bulk-forming laxatives, and the use of non-bulk-forming laxatives or enemas.

For severe constipation, the treatment will involve suppositories, biofeedback, and possibly botulinum toxin injections into the puborectalis muscle. However, if the constipation is mild, we suggest dietary fiber and bulk-forming laxatives to be taken together, along with adequate fluids.

Can digestive problems be hereditary?

Yes, there are many digestive problems with a hereditary background.

At what age are people most vulnerable?

This would depend on the disease itself, for example Crohn’s disease can appear at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 13 and 30.

How important is diet when it comes to dealing with digestive problems?

Diet and unhealthy food account for more than 50 % in cases of most digestive diseases. For example in reflux disease, only the avoidance of spicy and fried food could eliminate more than 60 % of the symptoms.

As more people turn to healthier food options do you see a reduction in certain types of problems?

Yes, especially in younger generations, although we all need to work more for patient education, especially for working men and older generations.

What are your top tips for avoiding digestive problems?

Eat More Frequent Meals

Eating more frequent meals not only helps boost metabolism but also keeps you from overeating. This is because when you eat a big meal, your digestive system can get overloaded and may not be able to handle food as well as it should. Aiming for eating 5-6 small meals a day will promote overall good digestive health.

Eat More Fiber

Fiber is useful for gut-friendly bacteria, which lives on indigestible carbohydrates. So eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, which will help in digesting complex foods. Eating fiber-rich food also normalizes and helps maintain bowel movements and therefore relieves constipation. It’s recommended that women should have their 20g of fiber a day, while men should aim for at least 30g.

Have Regular Check-Ups

Having regular check-ups is very important because that way you are able to identify the exact problem you’re facing and can treat it accordingly. Also, regular health check-ups can prevent problems before they start, making your chances for treatment and cure much better. >>

Stay Away from Fried and Fatty Foods

Especially if you have heartburn, these foods can increase your discomfort when they are being digested. In addition, try to limit your alcohol intake because it slows down the digestive system.

Make Sure to Drink Lots of Fluids

Most people only think of water in this category, but fluids also include soup, broth and juices (just watch out for the sugar content). Fluids break down foods during digestion and can help you avoid constipation. Water can also help in neutralizing stomach acid, therefore playing a key role in reducing heartburn.

Get More Sleep

This is essential for activating your parasympathetic nervous system, which is in charge of how your body rests and digests food. Also, try sleeping on the left side of your body because research shows that this position is better for digestion. Getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night will also help eliminate your heartburn.

Start a Workout Routine

Even exercise, as simple as brisk walking for a few minutes each day, can help your body move gas through the digestive system more quickly, which will be a relief if you’re always bloated.

10 Pieces of Advice from Child Psychologist Monda Joseph

“Peer pressure is huge, and plays a big role in the development of materialism in children”

As Oscar Wilde once wrote, to know “The cost of everything but the value of nothing” is the worst way to grow up. Teaching your child to have a balanced attitude towards money is an important aspect of their education, but in a society where even toddlers have iPads and expensive gadgets that often replace imaginative quality playtime – or outdoor activities – how do we make sure our children don’t become over-materialistic?

Cairo East Magazine spoke to child psychologist Monda Joseph about the best ways to combat this threat.

CEM: To what extent should parents refrain from focusing on how much an items cost when discussing them with their children?

MJ: Make your children aware of what things cost so they can appreciate them, but without dwelling on the subject; repeating it can be stressful for them. For older kids as part of their learning process it is good to have them look up the price of the things they would like, for example on sites such as Amazon, and then let them research and compare prices and put them in a context. At the same time avoid measuring everything in terms of monetary value because this will encourage a more materialistic outlook.

How much should children know about how family finances are handled?

This depends on the age of the child. As a rule give your children only as much information as they need. Young children are egocentric and are only really concerned with what is affecting them directly, but adolescents should be made more aware of what is going on around them, and by age fifteen they need to learn about good decision-making, including those made with regards to finances. Some children are completely uninterested, but if they ask for details don’t shut them out; respect them and let them feel heard, while making it clear that you as parents always make the decisions regarding finances.

In a situation in which there are financial difficulties or changes that can affect the children it’s okay to make them aware of what’s going on, but let them feel that it is being handled so that they won’t stress about it.

How much is peer pressure and keeping up with friends and school-mates to blame for consumerism in children?

Peer pressure is huge, and plays a big role in the development of materialism in children, because it’s one of the biggest factors associated with social acceptance. No child wants to be different, and parents are often stuck between wanting to honor their own values and succumbing to the pressure being placed on their children outside the home. Having something or not, being in the group or out, these are issues that are hard for young children to deal with; they don’t have the capacity to measure them. In Egypt, if it’s the parents’ belief that their children should not have electronic devices at an early age they will be swimming against the tide since it’s become common for school kids in Year One to have phones and iPads!

However what you can do is impose restrictions on how often they use them at home, especially for young children – for example an hour or two on weekdays and three on the weekend. Fix a set time for everyone in the home to put away their gadgets, including you, the parents, and spend family time together doing other things. For example you can allocate one night a week as ‘family evening’ when you watch movies together or go out and enjoy another activity. Don’t let gadgets become an addiction; ‘everything in moderation’ is an important lesson.

Do you think it is important for children to work towards items they want, apart from essentials and clothing?

Certainly, because it teaches them to know the value of and appreciate the objects they have, and also how to save towards a target. They can get an allowance in the form of pocket money, and/or do chores to earn their allowance. If the item is very expensive then an arrangement can be worked out by which they do chores up to a certain value and then the parents can consider making up the rest.

How important is it for children to be able to differentiate between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’?

It’s an important life skill, which will serve them well later on. Self-managing and learning how to prioritize should be learned as early as possible, starting around the age of eight, when a child is cognitively able to reason.

When children have a made a purchase, is it a good idea to ask them if they feel they made the right decision, and why?

Yes, because it helps parents understand their thought processes and motivations (as well as making the child more aware of these themselves). For example, did they want the object just because their friend has it, or was there another reason?  Discussing these issues also promotes good communication between parent and child.

Should children be given a regular set allowance?

Yes, though how much is totally the parents’ decision. From the age of five to eleven parents should help their children manage their pocket money, but from twelve and up they should learn this for themselves; how and where to keep it and what to spend it on; it’s about learning to take responsibility for their own decisions.

Should children be encouraged to make small donations to a charity of their choice?

I advise parents to encourage and teach their children to give. In this society lots of kids grow up just taking. Even though they live surrounded by want, they are often being brought up in a kind of bubble and don’t get to interact with people outside their own social circle. Try to give them a choice and discuss with them what charity they would like to donate to, and it doesn’t need to be money. Learning to give away what was once theirs – clothes or toys they no longer use, for example – is sometimes harder because those things are really related to them, rather than just money which comes from mom and dad.

Is it a good idea to ask children to allocate their allowance to ready spending money, long-term savings, and saving up for something special they want?

Yes definitely. Some children will tend to opt for instant gratification and that’s okay, but teach them that waiting and saving can result in a bigger and better purchase, and be more gratifying in the long run.

Is it important for parents to involve the whole family in low-cost or cost-free activities that they can all enjoy?

Definitely. If you want your child to grow up with a less materialistic outlook, then you must be prepared to replace their desire for new toys, electronic games and expensive activities with something else; something they will enjoy equally and that involves you. Spending time together doing low-cost activities is far more valuable in the end than equipping them with the latest gadgets. Of course this puts the pressure on busy parents, but it is a vital part of their learning process and social interaction. So if your child is in danger of becoming over materialistic, start creating interesting alternatives to yet another purchase.

Monda Joseph holds a Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental Psychologist) and a Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology from the University Of Western Sydney, Australia. She has also completed a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology at the American University in Cairo (AUC).  She works with children who display various emotional and behavioral problems. Addressing these issues through structured assessment…. etc…

In Your Pocket and At Your Finger Tips  By Nahla Samaha

We live in a world where technology has increasingly diminished physical distances by creating a so-called “Global village”, it is ironic then that it actually takes us far longer to physically get from point A to point B. Enter solutions that eliminate the need for physical transport by bringing what you need directly to you instead. And no, I’m not talking about the Force. Rather, the solution is Elves. Your personal little helper running around doing your bidding at your convenience, available right at your fingertips.

Elves is more than a concierge service, and goes beyond what a personal shopper does. The elves working at Elves are your minions, travel consultants, errand-people, personal shoppers, idea factory, and more. Based out of Cairo, Elves is founded by five young Egyptians, Abeer El Sisi, Karim El Sahy, Kareem Diaa, Khaled Gomaa and Abdel Rahman El Zohiery.

Eliminating the hassle of looking for items yourself, making bookings, looking for the best deals, even thinking of gift ideas for loved ones, Elves does all that and more. By downloading the application ‘Elves – Your Personal Little Helper’ on iPhone (coming to Android soon), or by visiting their Facebook page, and selecting ‘Message’, or through the website, you have immediate and guaranteed access to chat with an Elf. Your data is saved, as is your trend-history with Elves.

So if you’re a busy working mother and have no time to do your own grocery shopping, just get in touch with an Elf, send your grocery list, pay through the app or a link sent via your Facebook chat, and voila! Task complete, groceries on their way to your home, with nothing to pay once received at your house.

“I got a request the other day from a man who wants to organize a romantic evening for his fiancée,” says Prime Elf Sara Jean Saba, “we worked on ideas for him within his set budget, and we took care of all the details from A to Z.” And what ensued on that romantic evening? A private Nile cruise with a catered dinner, a musician, and a stretch limo pick-up and drop-off filled with flowers inside.

Elves recently partnered with Uber on Valentine’s day to deliver flowers and Ferrerro Rocher chocolates, all hand-delivered by the elves themselves, “The event was scheduled to run from noon until about 8pm, all the sender had to do was let us know what the destination of delivery was and pay through Uber,” explains El Sisi, “by 2pm, we had run out of flowers and had to source additional quantities, needless to say, it was quite successful.”

Elves is a convenient platform with live human interaction, this allows you to engage in a dialogue with an actual person. For example, it’s Mother’s Day and you want to gift your mother, your Elf will ask you questions about your mother to get to know her likes and dislikes better, and will then provide you with gift suggestions within your budget, and take care of everything from purchasing, wrapping, and delivering the gift.

“We first launched Elves in the U.S. because we already run other businesses there, then Egypt, and now Elves is worldwide,” says El Sisi, “Elves is processing orders in Dubai, the Philippines, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Canada, Norway, Germany, just to name a few. “I had a client in Egypt request that flowers get sent to a funeral in the U.S.,” says Saba. Sisi adds, “I’ve had requests for fixing a motorcycle, iPhone screens, and more.”

Payment for Elves services is made by credit card online through a secure check-out on the application, or through a link sent via Facebook chat. There is also the option of the Elves Wallet, which can be topped up using Elves cards. You can top-up now at Dandy Mall and Arkan, with more top-up locations in the works.

Why go through the hassle of getting things done yourself during your busy day, when Elves can do it for you? No need to input your credit card details on more than one site, or make a gazillion phone orders a day, or brave Cairo traffic to run your errands, just call on Elves, your personal little helper.